asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines in England and Wales that have pit-head baths; and what further action is being taken to increase the facilities for washing and cleaning at the pit heads?

98 mines in England and Wales (besides 28 in Scotland) have pit-head baths in use, and bath installations are in course of erection under the Mining Industry Act, 1926, at 35 other mines in England and Wales and 10 in Scotland. These numbers exclude baths for mine officials only. According to present plans, from 30 to 35 additional mines will be provided with baths annually under the Mining Industry Act, 1926.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will have an inquiry made into the overtime worked at coal mines, in view of the increase of this practice during recent years through the greater use of machinery, coal cutters and conveyors, and of the fact that employment for more men would be provided by the regulation of this practice?

I am not quite clear what form of inquiry the hon. Member has in mind. All cases of overtime found by the Inspectors of Mines, or brought to their notice, are investigated, and if the overtime is found to be worked improperly the necessary steps are taken. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any such cases I will see that they are inquired into.

Is the Minister aware that last week he gave an answer to a question showing that in four mines in Nottinghamshire the average overtime worked was 3 per cent., and, if that is the average over the whole of the country, there are 24,000 more men who could be employed if the overtime was eliminated? It is on those lines that I want the hon. Gentleman to inquire.

Averages are most misleading things to take. The overtime which is legitimate is emergency overtime. That is the only overtime that is permissible under the law, and if it were barred, so far from increasing employment, it might conceivably interfere with the regular employment of men on ordinary shifts.

I have asked the Minister to make inquiries to see what ground there is for my assertions.

If the hon. Member has any particular cases to bring to my notice, I shall be glad to have them looked into. He will understand that there was a great deal of talk about this matter three years ago in Yorkshire, and there was an inquiry, and the result did not support the assertions that were made before the inquiry.

In the event of my bringing a specific case from Scotland, will the Minister prevent the men who report that case from being victimised by their employers?

The hon. Member knows that if cases are found where overtime is being worked illegally—the conditions are laid down in rules made under the Act of 1908—then the inspectors of my Department take instant action.

An answer from the Minister's Department on Tuesday showed that at one colliery in Nottinghamshire 1,400 hours overtime were worked in one month. Will he make inquiries into that?

Certainly.

Is the Minister aware that under the regulations men are down a colliery from seven in the morning to eight and nine o'clock at night regularly, and does he not think that there is need for review in such cases 7

If that is so, I am surprised that the hon. Member has not called my attention to it.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of hours overtime worked in or about the coal mines of the county of Durham for the month of January or the latest available month?

I am afraid that records of the kind the hon. Member desires are not kept, as the time and expense involved would be out of all proportion to the usefulness of the information. If the hon. Member has any information as to alleged illegal working of overtime, and will give me particulars, I will have inquiries made?

Is it not the case that last week a representative of the Minister stated the number of hours of overtime worked in particular cases?

An answer of that kind can always be given in the case of a particular pit, but the hon. Member in this question is asking, not in respect of a particular pit, but in respect of the whole county area, and my answer is accurate. The records are not such as would enable me to give him an answer in the form which he desires.

But would it not be possible for the Minister to inquire into this matter?

I have already done the utmost I can. I have offered to look into any case or cases which hon. Members care to bring up.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, as a result of the recent meeting at Geneva, he can make a statement of Government policy with regard to the Convention for the Limitation of Miners' Hours?

The policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to this Convention has not undergone any change since it was announced in this House on 23rd February last year by my predecessor in office, in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this answer. At the recent further meeting at Geneva of the representatives of the seven Governments principally concerned, I restated our policy in the same terms. In the course of the discussion which took place, I explained that upon examination of the details of the Convention we had found that it is quite impracticable, under the conditions obtaining in this country, to give effect to the provisions dealing with the hours of continuous shift workers, and with week-end work, as they stand and that the former of these difficulties, at least, would presumably arise in other countries also. I made it clear that Great Britain, while being favourably disposed to the Convention, and supporting the principle of simultaneous ratification, could only ratify it in a form which would enable its provisions to be observed in this country both in the letter and in the spirit. The meeting took note of the two points of practical difficulty, upon which they were unable to state an opinion; and considered that a further possible unofficial meeting of Government representatives could not usefully he contemplated until the International Labour Office had collected information as regards the manner in which the two questions have in practice been settled in the countries concerned.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether Great Britain is the only country which at the present time finds difficulty in ratifying the Convention? Has he seen in the German "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" a statement of the German attitude?

No, we are not the only country. I have seen a report of the German declaration made at Geneva, as printed in the German newspaper, and it is in the following terms:

" It would be a source of satisfaction to the German Government if, by the simultaneous ratification of the Convention concerning the limitation of hours of work in coal mines, the gaps between the prime costs of the most important coal dealers could be narrowed even partly, and for its own part the Government would be prepared to collaborate to this end. But it can set no hopes on such a course of action so long as its results are liable at any time to be called into question by disturbances in the domain of currency and of international movements of capital and goods. It, therefore, considers that the question of ratification cannot profitably be discussed until these disturbances have been removed."

rose—

This is developing into a Debate.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the refusal of the Mining Association to consider along with the Miners' Federation of Great Britain any question of the wages position as it will arise at the end of the present arrangement between the Government and the Association in July of this year, he will state what action the Government intend to take in this matter?

I am not prepared to assume, as the hon. Member apparently does, that wages difficulties will arise in the mining industry next July. Wages are regulated by district wage agreements, and I know of no case in which it is proposed to seek an alteration of the existing agreement in July. In these circumstances I do not understand in what direction and for what reason the hon. Member suggests that the Government should take action.

Is it the intention of the Government to assist the Miners' Federation to bring about national negotiation with the Mining Association on wages?

The hon. Member knows that that has been the policy of the Government from the beginning. He also knows that meetings have taken place on a national basis on other questions, and he will further realise that, apart from compulsory arbitration, it is not so easy to rebuild these things as it is to break them down.

May we take it that the Government disapprove of the action of the coalowners in refusing to negotiate on wages nationally

The answer to that question is that it is the Government policy to assist in every way a national agreement on the wages question in the mining industry.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that a letter was received in his Department on 9th February from the Miners' Federation intimating that the coalowners had point-blank refused to negotiate with the Federation on wages?

I have already answered that question. I have pointed out that, apart from compulsory arbitration, it is difficult to see what other useful steps we can take.

On a point of Order. A colleague of the Minister misled the House—I am certain quite innocently—on this day week, when he gave a reply indicating that no information was available with regard to the negotiations on wages having broken down. We are merely asking whether it is not the case that such information was at the Minister's disposal on that date.

Where is the point of Order?

It does not seem to me that any point of Order arises.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the proposals recently propounded for the development of low-temperature car- bonisation in Scotland on a large scale with a central refinery at Rosyth or Port Edgar for treating the oils obtained; and whether he is taking steps to assist the scheme being carried out in the near future, and to ascertain the accuracy of the statistical data which have been published in this connection?

The proposals to which my hon. Friend refers are, I believe, those which were outlined in a Debate in another place on 7th December last. While the commercial development of low temperature carbonisation is undoubtedly making some progress in this country I do not regard the particular scheme referred to as one which it would be practicable to carry out in the near future. I have had the data which has been published examined but there is not sufficient material available to me at present to enable me to say that it would be possible in practice to secure the results claimed.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Duke of Montrose is reported to have said that with a capital of £8,000,000, for a, low-temperature carbonisation scheme of this nature there would be an annual return of £2,000,000; and further is he aware that a return on capital of this nature is what poor Members of Parliament have been seeking anxiously for a long time?

I cannot take any responsibility for the calculations made or for the statements made.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us some idea as to when his inquiries into the statistical data will be complete?

The statistical information given in connection with this particular statement of the scheme is not sufficient to enable me to give an answer to my hon. Friend as to the value of the scheme propounded.

asked the Secretary for Mines the tonnage allocations and the actual output of coal for each district in this country, under the provisions of Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and the figures for each quarter for the years 1931 and 1932, respectively?

As the answer includes a large number of figures, I am sending the hon. Member the information he requires. At the same time copies have been placed in the Library for the information of any other hon. Members who may be interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any special efforts and, if so, of what nature, are now being made to secure increased preference for cotton goods within the Empire?

I can assure the hon. Member that no chance of providing increased opportunities for the sale of cotton goods within the Empire will be neglected.

Is the right hon. Gentleman doing anything to encourage the sale of steel sleepers in various parts of the Empire?

Yes, and the hon. Member will be pleased to know that the Great Western Railway and the London Midland and Scottish Railway have doubled—

Mt. George Hall.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether special import duties to compensate for exchange depreciation are levied by Canada now on imports from France or were so levied at any time since 1918?

French currency is not depreciated in relation to the Canadian dollar and no question therefore arises of dumping duty to compensate for depreciation. I understand that no such duty has in fact been imposed at any time since 1918 on account of exchange fluctuation.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will inquire from the Dominion Government whether the removal of the special duties to compensate for exchange depreciation levied by Canada on imports from this country is to be conditioned by the financial exigencies of Canada or by the fact that the exchange value of the pound sterling is no longer in fact depreciated?

The undertaking of His Majesty's Government in Canada as to the reduction and ultimate abolition of exchange dumping duty is set out in the second part of Article 17 of the agreement made with Canada at the Ottawa Conference; and there would not therefore appear to be any ground for the suggested inquiry.

Do I understand that, although the pound sterling has achieved a new parity, and is stable at that parity, yet it will continue to be treated as depreciated currency and differently from other currencies that have altered their gold content but are similarly stable?

It is very interesting to know that the pound is now stable.

May I ask for an answer to my question?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the figures of increased exports to Canada since the grant of preferences arising out of the Ottawa Agreements?

The modifications of duties provided for in the United Kingdom-Canada Trade Agreement came into force in Canada on the 13th October last. The declared value of the domestic exports of merchandise registered as consigned from the United Kingdom to Canada during the three months ended 31st December, 1932, amounted to £4,398,000, as compared with £4,124,000 during the previous quarter, and £4,285,000 during the corresponding quarter of 1931.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the increase in these figures as anything appreciable or satisfactory?

Yes, Sir, it is going in the right direction.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that inside of 10 years these figures will have appreciably increased?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the percentages of Empire content now in operation in this country, and the main classes of imports which are affected?

Under the regulations at present in force, goods manufactured in and consigned from a part of the Empire, with the exception of sugar, tobacco, optical glass and optical elements, must contain a minimum of 25 per cent. of Empire material and labour in order to qualify for Imperial preference. In the case of optical glass and optical elements, the required proportion is 75 per cent., while sugar and tobacco are subject to special provisions. Regulations recently made, which come into force on the 1st April next, will require an Empire content of 50 per cent. in respect of the main classes of manufactured goods, with the exception of textiles, chemicals, leather and paper.

Is this the right hon. Gentleman's idea of an approach to uniformity of standard?

It is as near as you can get thereto.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any progress has been made or any settlement arrived at in the negotiations for trade treaties between this country and the Governments of Denmark, Sweden, Holland and the Argentine?

Negotiations with Argentina, Denmark and Sweden are proceeding; no negotiations with Holland have been undertaken.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when they are likely to reach an agreement, and will he also tell us what results have been achieved up to date?

I cannot name a definite date, but they are proceeding satisfactorily.

Has the right hon. Gentleman succeeded in obtaining a relaxation of the restrictions on exchange by the Argentine Government so that British exporters may receive payment for the goods they have sent to the Argentine?

That is under discussion at the present moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade with which foreign countries negotiations are proceeding which prevent recent recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee from being confirmed?

It has been deemed advisable to defer a decision on certain recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the present stage of the commercial negotiations and discussions with Denmark and Germany.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of my question which asks what countries these are?

I am afraid I cannot go into that question at the moment.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that pottery is one of the articles referred to in this recommendation as very large users of coal in this country, and that it would be very valuable for our coal industry?

We will not allow pottery to slip out of mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that an understanding has been arrived at with the Danish Government at the Anglo-Danish Exhibition, 1932, that applications for export licences would be accepted on the basis of an exchange of 18.50 kronen to the pound sterling; but that following on this arrangement licences are being issued on the basis of 19.20 kronen to the pound sterling; and if he will invite the Danish Government to implement the undertaking which they have given?

I am not aware that the Danish Government have given any such undertaking as is described in the first part of the question. The remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise.

Oh, but surely the right hon. Gentleman has been made aware of the negotiations that took place at Copenhagen at the time of the Anglo-Danish Exhibition, and will he take into con- sideration in the negotiations now proceeding the undertaking given by the Danish Government to the British manufacturers?

But there was not an undertaking of the nature described in this question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the Anglo-Danish Exhibition specific promises were made to British manufacturers in relation to Danish trade, and are these promises in point of fact now being implemented by the Danes?

As far as we know, they are.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British firms were assured at the Anglo-Danish Exhibition, 1932, at Copenhagen that they would receive licences for at least 45 per cent. of the volume of export to Denmark in 1931; and if this agreement has been carried out by the Danish Government?

The Danish law provides that in general no importer shall have his imports of any particular class of goods restricted to less than 45 per cent. of the value of the same kind of goods imported by him in 1931, and so far as I am aware this provision is being observed by the Danish licensing authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give an assurance that the tariff of 25 per cent. on the import of machine tools into this country will be continued for a period of time sufficient to give British firms, prepared to produce foreign tools under royalty in this country and therefore employing increased British labour, the opportunity of expanding their production under the tariff?

The present rate of duty on machine tools is 20 per cent. ad valorem. My hon. Friend can rest assured that the efforts being made by certain manufacturers to increase the output of machine tools in this country would be taken into account in the event of any proposals arising for a reduction in the duty.

Does my right hon. Friend mean by that answer that manufacturers of machine tools in this country will be justified in putting additional capital into this experiment?

I do not see why they should not do so, with the present rate of duty, which is 20 per cent. ad valorem.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the importation of skimmed milk into this country on advantageous terms as compared with full cream condensed milk or milk powders is discouraging the manufacture of milk chocolate of a high nutritive value in favour of milk chocolate of a. low nutritive value; and will he consider a marking order to distinguish the two kinds of milk chocolate or some other method of encouraging the manufacture and sale in this country of the more nutritive variety?

There is no power under the Merchandise Marks Act to make an Order of the kind suggested. Questions of quality in relation to foodstuffs are more within the province of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Are we to understand that the appropriate action is for the manufacturers concerned to apply to the Import Duties Advisory Commission

I have no doubt that, if they apply to that commission, the commission will give attention to their representations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature of the further restrictions to be imposed against the imports of British coal into Spain; and whether, in view of the fact that the trade balance between Great Britain and Spain is in favour of the latter country, he can make any statement on the subject?

I cannot at present add anything to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines on the 23rd February to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall) and the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. Dickie).

Are negotiations in progress?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of regular troops in Jersey; the number of staff officers in the island; and their pay and emoluments?

There are three officers and three other ranks of the Regular Forces in Jersey, of whom two of the officers are the Lieutenant-Governor and his staff captain. For information as to the rates of pay of these latter officers, I would refer my hon. Friend to Appendix 8 of the current Army Estimates.

Is the staff officer in Jersey provided, in addition to his pay, with a house?

I cannot answer that question offhand.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider altering the rules governing the award of pension to ex-service men who served in campaigns prior to 1914–18, so as to permit birth certificates instead of the date of birth given on attestation to be taken as evidence of present age?

No, Sir. It is not proposed to alter the rule whereby the age given by a recruit on his first attestation is accepted as his correct age throughout his army career for various purposes, including the assessment of his pension. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it would not always be in the soldier's interest to make this alteration.

Will the hon. Gentleman arrange that men, on attestation, shall be made aware that any understatement of age will prejudice their claim to pension?

I think it would naturally occur to anybody, if they were contemplating making a false statement, that it might have some deleterious effect on their later career.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is intended that representative detachments from all over the country shall take part in the Territorial review which it is proposed to hold this summer, or whether it is to be confined to those stationed in the vicinity of London?

It has not yet been decided whether it will be possible to hold a review, but, if it is held, it will be confined to troops in the vicinity of London.

Can the hon. Gentleman state whether a Territorial officer will be given supreme command of that parade?

It is too early to give a decision with regard to that question.

In view of the fact that the Territorial Army is no less than 45,000 under strength at present, does not the hon. Gentleman think that, if a Territorial officer could be given an important command of this nature, even for one day, it would be a great stimulus?

Yes.

If it should be decided by the Government to hold such a review, would the cost of that review be met out of the existing Estimates, or would there be a Supplementary Estimate?

It would be met out of the existing Estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any proportion of the £900,000 that is to be included in this year's Estimates for Territorial training will be devoted towards the cost of the proposed Territorial review; and, if so, how much?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number and value of remounts purchased for the Army during 1932 from the Irish Free State, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England and Wales; and whether, in view of the recent abolition of the light-horse breeding subsidy, he proposes to make any increase in purchases from the two latter sources during the current year?

I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures for which he asks in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I would refer him to the reply which I gave on 11th July last to my Noble Friend the Member for Roxburgh and Selkirk (Earl of Dalkeith).

Would the hon. Gentleman say in anticipation of the circularisation of the information that the horses purchased in England and Scotland are equal to the stamp of those previously purchased in Ireland?

Yes, Sir, I think they are.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many men who offered themselves for the Army during 4931 and 1932 were rejected on medical or other grounds?

The figures for the recruiting year 1930–31 were 82,682 men served with notice papers and 46,818 rejected. The corresponding figures for 1931–32 were 70,418 and 41,667. The hon. Member will find these and other figures relating to recruiting in the General Annual Report on the British Army which will be in the possession of Members in a few days.

Does the hon. Gentleman attribute this large volume of rejections to a raising of the standard of military requirements or to a continuous deterioration in the physique of the men of this country?

I do not think any such conclusion can be drawn from these figures. The standard goes up and down in different districts, in proportion to the number of recruits that are being obtained.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that these rejections for ill-health would be very much fewer if the Government would go in for the policy of open-air nursery schools?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men who offered themselves for the Navy during 1931 and 1932 were rejected on medical and other grounds?

As the Admiralty requires only about one-fourteenth of the total number who offer themselves for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, only the very best men are taken. In the financial year 1930–31, 43,453 men offered themselves. Of these, 38,028 were rejected by recruiters for miscellaneous causes, including obvious physical defects, and 2,451 on examination by medical officers. The comparable figures for 1931-32 are 47,054, 41,063 and 2,781.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many men who offered themselves for the Air Force during 1931 and 1932 were rejected on medical or other grounds?

I have been asked to reply. The figures for men recruits for the calendar year 1931 were as follow: application forms completed 11,321: applications taken up 5,914, of which 3,768 were rejected. The corresponding figures for 1932 were 8,265, 2,042, and 1,255. It should be added that the requirements in 1932 were much below those of 1931.

Does not die answer to this question show that we are heading towards a C.3 population?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister who are the members of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee appointed in accordance with the report of the Royal Commission on Honours; whether the committee is regularly consulted on all such honours; and when it last met?

The Political Honours Scrutiny Committee appointed by the present Government in accordance with the report of the Royal Commission on Honours is constituted as follows:

• The right hon. Viscount Buckmaster, G. C. V.O. (Chairman).
• The right hon. Lord Macmillan.
• The right hon. G. N. Barnes, C.H.

Was the committee consulted about Miss Amy Johnson?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount and the terms of the loan guaranteed by the British to the Newfoundland Government?

His Majesty's Government has not guaranteed any loan to the Government of Newfoundland, but the United Kingdom share of the advance recently made to that Government by His Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and Canada is £166,570, being the sterling equivalent of 625,000 Canadian dollars. A Supplementary Estimate for this amount will shortly he presented to Parliament. The terms of the loan to replace this advance will be settled in the light of the report of the Royal Commission which is about to visit Newfoundland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the duty per proof gallon on spirits in the year 1920, and the revenue derived therefrom; and the duty per proof gallon in 1932, and the amount of the revenue raised in that year?

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can my right hon. Friend say generally whether there has not been an enormous loss of revenue by reason of this continued high taxation; and does he recognise that this penal taxation is killing the goose that has laid so many golden eggs for the Treasury in the past?

There has been a loss of revenue, but I should be sorry to enter into any exposition about it now.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that those men who have given up beer and are drinking milk are doing good to the farmers?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount raised by Beer Duty to the nearest available date in the current financial year; and how this compares with the Estimates given to the House last year?

The approximate amount of revenue derived from the Beer Duty during the period from 1st April, 1932, to 31st January, 1933, was £64,554,000; the Budget Estimate for the financial year ending 31st March, 1933, was 280,000,000.

Does my right hon. Friend not recognise that the friendly warnings which he received a year ago as to the likelihood of this taxation being seriously diminished if it were retained at its present penal amount were justified?

My hon. Friend is comparing 10 months with 12, and it is perhaps too soon to draw a final conclusion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government will consider drawing up schemes for nationalising big banking concerns similar to that approved by a resolution passed by the landtag of Bavaria?

No, Sir.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman consider this in relation to our present situation?

The circumstances of the resolution appear to be rather curious; I understand that it was carried by a combination between Nazis and Socialists and was opposed by the Communist party.

As it seems to have met with the general approval of all parties, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he ought to consider it?

The report which I have seen about the resolution is that it is not to be considered as anything more than a demonstration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of authorising the appointment of the five assistant keepers in the entomological department of the British Museum (Natural History) included in the Civil Estimates for the current year, in consideration of the valuable work performed by the department and the deterioration which shortage of staff is causing to the collections?

The Estimates for the current year show the number of assistant keepers which it is intended at a future date to appoint in the British Museum (Natural History) but do not include money provision for the posts in question. The staff of the Museum has recently been strengthened by a net addition of two to the superior staff. A further increase is not considered warranted in present circumstances. I do not accept the view that the collections are deteriorating.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the appointment of those assistant keepers who have been provided for in the Estimates in view of the opinion widely held among entomologists that the collection is suffering, and that the work of the Museum, which is of Colonial and Imperial value, is also suffering in consequence?

I have informed my hon. Friend that I do not consider that the collections are deteriorating, but, if they were, the deterioration would be more academic than vital.

Will the hon. Gentleman visit the Museum once more?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give figures showing the decreased rateable value of licensed houses for the past year?

I regret that figures of the nature desired are not available.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell me what the effect of Schedule A is?

No, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that four-fifths of the licensed houses in northern industrial parts are applying to have their rateable values decreased, and that they include many in the neighbourhood of Rotherham?

I do not know whether or not that is the fact, but the test would be whether they succeed in obtaining reductions.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye (Sir G. Courthope), as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether any record is kept showing the percentage of trees planted by the Commission that have lived; and what has been thus far the over-all average cost per living tree defrayed out of public funds?

Records are kept and show that 77.5 of the trees planted by the Forestry Commission have lived. It is estimated that the over-all average cost per living tree has been 21/5.d.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us in what part of the country the death-rate is highest?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what progress has been made in the trials in His Majesty's fleet of cordage made from East African sisal in substitution for cordage made from foreign fibres; and whether a statement can now be made as to the adoption of sisal for the purpose?

The trials in question have been concluded and the results are sufficiently promising to warrant the partial adoption of sisal for making ropes for His Majesty's Naval Service. The Admiralty have decided, therefore, that so long as supplies of East African sisal can be obtained at satisfactory prices, a substantial proportion of the service requirements for towing hawsers, heaving and hauling lines shall be made from this fibre in lieu of manila, also that sisal shall be used exclusively for a number of small ropes which have hitherto been made from manila. If sisal cordage continues to give satisfactory service, the question of its more general adoption will be considered.

May I ask the Noble Lord if the report which has been supplied to the Vegetable Fibres Committee of the Imperial Institute can also be supplied to representatives of the sisal industry in this country?

The Admiralty report has been sent to the Advisory Committee on Vegetable Fibres of the Imperial Institute, which body has been working hand in hand with the Admiralty in investigating the possibilities of sisal. Copies of the report were circulated to members of the committee with the request that it should be regarded as strictly confidential until the question of publication has been considered at a meeting to be held to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that rural housing authorities realise the applicability to certain rural areas of the subsidy under the Slum Clearance Act, 1930; and, if not, whether he will make a statement for their guidance?